Cheap flights to Sydney, Australia from $268

Sydney Travel Guide

Sydney, Australia’s oldest and biggest city, has everything you’d expect from a world city. Its location on one of the most beautiful harbors, its greenness, climate, safety, and even excellent transport system make it an unforgettable destination.

The Sydney Harbor, home to the shell-shaped opera house and the steel-arch bridge, is one of the most stunning harbors in the world. A string of golden, inner-city beaches runs on either side of which the most famous is Bondi, and others, no less beautiful, include Tamarama, Bronte and Manley.

Long, long before there were cheap flights to Sydney, Australia’s first European settlers landed at The Rocks. At the foot of the Sydney Harbor Bridge and on the western shores of Sydney Cove, this old colonial district is a buzzy area with cafes and restaurants standing amid the historic buildings.

Aside from the landmarks and beaches, Sydney revels in its foodie reputation. While it has its fair share of museums, theatres and art galleries perhaps the best thing is having a view of the water at sunset, a plate of Sydney rock oysters and a glass of local white wine.

Tourists booking trips to Sydney are headed for one of the most cultural cities in the world, and it’s possible for travelers to spend an entire week just touring it. Here are some tips to help you plan your trip to Sydney and enjoy the smoothest possible visit to this wonderful city.

Getting to and around the city of Sydney

You can reach the city by train from Sydney Airport (about 6 miles in distance), also referred to as Kingsford-Smith Airport, in around 15 minutes, and there are train stations at both International and Domestic terminals just in case you find yourself unsure of where to be. The International terminal is at the northern end and is accessible from the Arrivals area. Alternatively, you can jump on one of the many buses that operate to and from the airport. They are very regular and easy to navigate, however, the train is the quicker option if you’re in a rush. Failing that, you could take a taxi or rent a car from the airport, however a taxi will be expensive and unless you plan to drive around a lot, car rentals can be an unnecessary burden.

Once you’ve settled in to your hotel and are ready to explore, you’ll quickly notice that Sydney is a city built around its harbor, and that’s where you will find some of the best sightseeing. The public passenger ferries are run by Sydney Ferries and you can board a monorail down to Darling Harbor. There are plenty of ways to get around the city. The Sydney and Bondi Explorer buses stop almost anywhere you’d want to go in the city and around the harbor and beaches. Take the light-rail tram line to Chinatown, Paddy’s Markets or Darling Harbor. You don’t need to drive, and the one-way streets and lack of parking will eat up your time. Taxis are all over and easy to hail on the street. Adventurous travelers who don’t fear heights can join the Sydney Harbor Bridge climb, which walks across catwalks and ladders across the arch of the iconic Sydney Harbor Bridge.

Tips for your stay in Sydney

• Lots of tourist activities in Sydney are all about the views such as climbing the Sydney Harbor Bridge. There are panoramic views from Mrs. Macquarie’s (wife of Governor Macquarie) Chair, and in the Royal Botanic Gardens (free to enter). The Open Air Cinema is close to the Chair. The big screen has the Sydney City Skyline, Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbor Bridge as a backdrop.
• Taronga Zoo was opened in 1916 and sits on high land along the waterfront overlooking the Sydney Harbor Bridge, the Cove and the Opera House. The zoo is just twelve minutes by ferry from the central business district. The Sky Safari cable car runs between the zoo wharf and the top of the zoo.
• The Rocks is Sydney’s oldest preserved colonial area. It is where the first settlers from England landed in 1788. Today, having undergone a makeover, it is a thriving area of galleries, museums, restaurants, cafes and shops. Staying with settlements, Fort Denison was an unhappy place of punishment and confinement…for the convicts. It’s part of Sydney Harbor National Park and is open for guided tours.
• Take the Manly Ferry. Hop on at Circular Quay and cruise the seven nautical miles (takes about thirty minutes each way) to Manly, the suburb by the sea. There’s a lot to do there apart from going to the beach: several heritage walks, galleries and museums, regular festivals and more than 80 restaurants.
• For a view of the city and beyond, visit the Sydney Tower, 820 feet above the streets. High-speed double-decker lifts rocket up to the observation desk in just forty seconds.
• Around 100 beaches are speckled around the Sydney harbor and along the coast, which makes for a perfect beach weekend. Don’t forget the beaches such as Bondi, Manly, Coogee, Balmoral, Tamarama and Palm. 
• The Sydney fish market is a must-visit spot. After Tokyo it sells the world’s largest variety of fish and seafood. There are ninety-minute tours of the market that include an explanation of the auction and buying system, the auction floor and takes in some oyster shucking.
• The Sydney Seafood School, also at the fish market, is a great place to pick up tips on how to cook Aussie style. The school is considered one of Australia’s leading cooking schools and bookings should be made as far in advance as possible – at the same as booking cheap flights to Sydney perhaps.
• It didn’t all start in 1770 when Cook landed. There are tours of pre-white settlement Sydney with the Tribal Warrior that take just under two hours. Telling the stories of the Eora, Cadigal, Guringai, Wangal, Gammeraigal and Wallumedegal peoples, passengers will also learn the Aboriginal names of Sydney’s landmarks.
• Other, more offbeat, tours include Sydney by Harley motorbike, hearse or with drag queen. Destiny Tours cruise in haunted hearses through the seedy underbelly of Sydney. The Sydney by Diva tour is best taken around Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras (August), a luxury-laden coach trip.

Finding Flights from Sydney

With flights to various destinations worldwide, Sydney Airport makes traveling easy no matter where you’re headed. For flights out of the country, Hawaiian Airlines, Japan Airlines and American Airlines are just a few of your airline options. For domestic travel, check out Virgin Australia or Australia Air Express. Visit https://www.cheapflights.com.au for the top flight deals for routes out of Sydney.

If you’re driving to the airport, just take the freeway 10 miles south of the city center, and head for the short and long-term parking when you get there. You can also reach the airport via the Airport Link underground rail line, which takes around fifteen minutes from downtown Sydney. For an even more affordable trip, consider taking the bus. Route 400 brings you right to the airport.

Once you choose a destination, be sure to check out our Sydney airport guides for more detailed travel information and helpful tips.

Sydney, Australia airport overview

Sydney Airport (SYD), also referred to as Kingsford-Smith Airport, is situated in the suburb of Mascot, near Botany Bay, approximately 6 miles (9km) from Sydney, Australia’s largest city and main commercial and tourist hub. It is one of the oldest continuously running airports in the world and, having handled just over 35.9 million passengers in 2010, it is Australia’s busiest aerial hub.

Comprising three passenger terminals, namely International Terminal T1 and Domestic Terminals T2 and T3, Sydney Airport is home to a vast array of world-class shopping and dining venues, as well as a host of facilities and amenities for both tourists and business travelers. Check-in, baggage claims, immigrations, customs and security are generally smooth and painless; however, like most international airports, standard airport processes can slow down during peak times. 

In essence, Sydney Airport is clean, efficient and well maintained. Better yet, transport to and from the airport is abundant and therefore makes this airport an ideal gateway for those traveling to Sydney and surrounds.